THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



57 



rough drainage. Throw in the soil, 

 and plant the shrub. The use of the 

 vacant space beneath the plant is to 

 prevent the roots of the surrounding 

 trees from intruding upon the newly- 

 planted shrub. After a short time 



they will be collected there in consider- 

 able numbers, without in any way 

 interfering with the plant above. 



The accompanying sketch will, per- 

 haps, more fully illustrate the mode of 

 planting which I have described. 



BREAKING THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



What is termed "breaking," in gar- 

 dener's language, is simply starting 

 the plants into their seasonal growth ; 

 and, with the Chrysanthemum, this 

 may be done at almost any time, 

 for if suckers are taken off the mo- 

 ment the bloom is over, they winter 

 well in frames ; if taken in spring, 

 they grow rapidly, and are not much 

 behind those struck in autumn; and 

 even as late as August cuttings may 

 be struck to bloom the same year. 

 The interest that attaches to the pre- 

 cise period at which it is best to 

 commence the culture, arises out of 

 the necessity for those who exhibit, to 

 have their specimens in their finest 

 possible condition as to size and 

 bloom, by a certain time, and that is, 

 the second week in November, when 

 most of the shows ail over the country 

 take place. Now, if the schedules of 

 Chrysanthemum shows required every 

 exhibiter to state certain leading par- 

 ticulars as to the routine adopted in 

 their cultivation, our knowledge of the 

 best means of treating this flower would 

 doubtless be improved, for every 



exhibiter, and especially those who are 

 most successful, could contribute infor- 

 mation that would be invaluable, not 

 only to the floral public generally, but 

 to their brother exhibiters, whether 

 amateur or professional. This plan 

 might be extended to flower-shows of 

 all kinds, without detracting in any 

 way, from the merit that attaches to 

 individual skill and patience, or inter- 

 fering in the least with the interests of 

 professional exhibiters. 



It must not be supposed, however, 

 that Mr. Scutt is the only grower who 

 has produced grand specimens from 

 cuttings struck in March. Every 

 grower of the Chrysanthemum knows, 

 that, for all ordinary purposes, March 

 is the best time for the purchase of new 

 stock, and the increase of every kind 

 already in the collection. "We have 

 had the best of the Pompones in full 

 bloom, the first week in November, 

 from cuttings struck in June and July ; 

 the period and manner of their bloom- 

 ing being very much at the command 

 of the grower, by judicious stopping 

 and the abundant use of liquid manure. 



